5 Tips for Dealing with a No-Entryway Entryway

Many of us don't come home to a big foyer, but there are many ways to make the best of what space you do have. With some strategic purchases and placements, small bits of wall or a funny hallway can function as stylish and efficient entry areas.

1. Work with all of the wall
Even if you only have two or three feet of wall space to use, you'd be surprised how much you can fit. Work vertically, as in Image 3, with hooks and hanging storage to maximize your entry area. If you're going horizontally, opt for consoles or shelving with a narrow profile.

2. Edit and prioritize what needs to be right by the door
If you have a closet that can store coats, you might decide not to dedicate hooks for them by the door (Images 4 and 5). Otherwise, you'll want a few, and coat storage might be your entryway priority (Image 7). No matter what, you'll want to keep track of your mail and keys.

3. Make things work double-duty In the first image, the desk functions as a regular work spot, but it's also a place to plunk down a purse and stow mail out of sight. The coat rack in Image 8 has an integrated shelf on top, and the last image shows a bench that also helps wrangle shoes. I wouldn't be surprised if the upholstered ottomans in Images 2 and 5 open to reveal shoe storage too.

4. Make the entry area a continuation of the rest of your home
Instead of focusing on the lack of a dedicated entry space, concentrate on making the space play nicely with its very immediate surroundings. In the first image, the entry desk chair coordinates with a lounge chair. In Image 4, the table that stores keys, etc., fits in perfectly as a side table to the couch next to it. In Image 9, the area adjacent to the door is reserved for hooks, but additional entry storage comes in the form of shelves that fit right into the room.

5. Have fun with the details
Incorporate a cool mirror, a favorite art print, interesting hooks, and good-looking baskets.